Demons win, advance to tourney finals: Varnado goes 2-0 Thursday, wins 2nd game on buzzer beater
Published 4:26 am Saturday, December 31, 2016
Franklinton’s Demons reached the finals of the Hannan Hustle Basketball Tournament, after winning the first two games of the event that took place at Archbishop Hannan and in the Coquille Parks and Recreation Gym.
After capturing Wednesday’s game against Varnado, 60-40, with a solid second half, the Demons were victorious over Springfield, 66-48.
Against Springfield, Darius Dawson was Franklinton’s leading scorer with 20 points. Dawson knocked down six 3-pointers.
T.Y. Pope posted a strong double-double with 18 points and 18 rebounds.
Sam Smith posted 15 points for the Demons and Raisean Hart recorded 11. Hart was successful twice from beyond the 3-point line.
Jairus Bryant added two points in the victory.
The Demons played for the tournament title against Archbishop Hannan after press time.
Varnado played a pair of games on Thursday and won both.
The first game was a 68-52 victory over Pine.
Errol Varnado led the Wildcats in scoring with 12 points and he also made six steals.
Andre Jones put up a double-double with 10 points and he grabbed 17 rebounds.
Gary Crumedy and Jakyle Newkirk posted nine points each while Armontee Kemp recorded eight, James Williams had seven, Ardarryl McGowan and Damon Kirsh finished with four each and Jadarrell Magee added one.
Ty Galloway led Pine with 19 points and he knocked down five 3-pointers.
Christian Warren had 10 points, which included a pair of threes.
Trey Cooper recorded nine points while Chance Woodward posted five, Dillon Morris had four, Jordan Anderson finished with three and Kaz Warren added two. Cooper and Woodward both knocked down a 3-pointer.
Pine played Pearl River on Friday after press time, to cap off the Raiders’ play in the tournament.
Varnado’s second game Thursday came down to the wire against M.L. King Charter.
The Wildcats trailed by a point late, but Varnado hit a put back layup as time expired and the Wildcats were victorious, 61-60.
Varnado scored a team-high 20 points for the Wildcats.
Jones had another big game, going for 16 points and 18 rebounds. Kemp finished with 12 points. Crumedy recorded seven points and Williams added one in the win.
Varnado finished the tournament with a 2-1 record and played its District 8-1A opener on the road against Houma Christian, following Friday’s press time.
Bogalusa suffered a 75-50 loss to Hannan.
B.J. Mingo led the Lumberjacks with 16 points. D’Angelo Mark added 13.
Bogalusa battled against Springfield on Friday after press time, to wrap up the Lumberjacks’ play in the tournament.